Chapter 38 · I turned on him. “What does that mean?”

I turned on him. “What does that mean?”

“It means the real Finn is still inside.”

“And the thing speaking?”

“The cage.”

“Can you pull him out?”

“Not without going in.”

“Then go.”

His face hardened. “If I enter, the curse will use me as a door.”

“Good. Open it.”

“It will come through me.”

“Then I’ll cut you down before it reaches me.”

A short, humorless laugh left him. “You say that like you’d actually do it.”

“I shot you once.”

“You missed my heart.”

“I was aiming for your leg.”

“You were aiming for my heart.”

The accusation hit too close. My hand curled around the knife.

Elias pushed away from the pillar and moved toward the heart-node.

I caught his sleeve. “If you forget me—”

“I won’t.”

“You don’t know that.”

“I know you’re loud when you’re scared.”

“I’m not scared.”

“You’re gripping my sleeve hard enough to tear it.”

I released him.

He took one step.

I grabbed his face with both hands and turned him back to me.

His skin was warm beneath my palms. A faint pulse beat at his temple.